Social Events....

My simple retiree's life looks forward to enjoying social events such as church activities and other happy celebratory occasions:

1.Last April 28, 2017, my sister-in-law Conchita Tan celebrated her 80th birthday. The gala celebration had her children coming home to Cotabato to grace the important milestone. They were George and Maria coming from Boston, Grace from Atlanta, Giselle from Singapore and Eugene and Aimee with three young kids from Davao. From the extended family, the children of Luna and Tina (Tan in-laws) also came to grace the occasion. They were Apollo and Leizle with two boys from Tacloban, Dominic and Carol and children from Davao. One of Conchita's siblings, Jose Atienza came over from Manila, her brother-in-law Chua Yu Beng and his wife from Kidapawan and his children all from Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod and Manila were present too.

The arrival of kin had the Tan households and hardware store becoming busy centers for family greetings and gatherings. My children did not come though. They were all busy with their work and other activities. Infact Tom was heading his high school batch reunion in Cebu, Martha was swimming and running her first aquathlon at Ateneo de Manila, Emil busy in Cebu, and of course Roy at work in Seattle and Marion in New Zealand.

I participated as lay reader in the birthday con-celebrated mass presided by Cardinal Orlando Quevedo. I also joined the choral group that rendered two songs for the celebrant. Food were aplenty: Roasted (whole cow) beef, lechons, fresh (whole fish) tuna sashimi, sushi bar, liquor bar, buffet stations and dessert corners, not to mention the aperitifs that were laid on each table before hand. Sadly though, both the birthday mass and the birthday party were not very well attended and many fondues of food were shelved away by unscrupulous people. Other than that, the trivia game was interesting and the celebrant and her family and the party attendees, all had a good time.

2. The Sunday of April 30, 2017,  I was formally inducted together with Garland Lu and Norma Lim as lay-reader (late) inductees for the year 2017. After the mass, during the Lecom meeting, I conducted a brief English pronunciation sharing to my fellow readers. I was glad they were all interested. In general, they were happy to get updated and learned or rekindled something from their old school. During the meeting, I did not like to appear as though I was a better reader. Many of them were community achievers like a lawyer/school principal, nurse, teacher, business women, etc. The fact that I personally and brazenly volunteered to give this talk because I did think I had something to share to the ministry. I thank them for their kind attention and also for giving me this opportunity to fulfill my promise to share my humble little knowledge.

3. In the afternoon, my husband Lucas and I went to visit James and Siolan Yap. James was just recently released from the hospital for prostate problem. He had not fully recovered from his medical condition yet, and he was physically ill at ease with his movements while lying down, but he was stronger than the time we visited him at the hospital. That afternoon he was happily more audible and talkative. That for us was a good sign. We hoped he gets better soon.

4. In the evening of the same day, Lucas and I attended the birthday party of Violeta Tarangco at Connie's restaurant. Violy is  a window. She is active at church, a daily mass goer. Her party was composed of small group, mostly church members. We had karaoke singing and food was more than sufficient enough for everybody. I was kind of hungry and  had second rounds. The guests had fun chorusing and dancing to lively singers. Lucas did a couple of songs. Mostly everybody in the party was sincerely cajoling and enjoying the night away. It was indeed a happy and gay celebration!

And to think many people at times, ask me. " What do you do these days?"
The answer is "I am enjoying my retirement." Hehehe. Truly I tell you, that is not a lie!